Washing machine



Oct. 12 1926. `l

A. W. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE 7|! m 1 7 7 1/ S t m X 5 n E m El e /1 A. -nl :V i M ,4, 4 5 l I "B F. f, n 1/ \\A-. \`M\\ .D In 4 l H 5 f Il. n m W /mH/ l Q 0.. i- /J Q, G 4 4 r .f 8 s l, f f ll .l A 4 1v E d 1 .e u wr 4 n .n 4 1 1 l Ffa-1 Oct. 12 ,1926. 1,603,011

A. W. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1 8. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IE/4 EF. E5

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Gct. 12 1926. A. W. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18. 1922 INYENTDR- oct. 12 1926. 1,603,011

A. w. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18. 1922 5 sheets-Sheet 4 a =1 E E@ :Ea

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A. w. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented oa. 12, 192s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

This invention has reference to washing machines and relates particularly to that type of machines intended for domestic use in the home. t

The invention has for its principal object to improve machines which embody oscillating tubs as the clothes container, in the provision of an operating mechanism by means of which the tub is oscillated Without the use of balance springs, noiseless, and so balanced in relation to the tub that there is absolutely n jar to the machine, or jiggling, as is the case in many machines of this type.

This invention hasy for a further object to `improve the. clothes container and the mounting therefor in the frame; such improvement including a new arrangement of obstructions within the container which will insure a Icomplete agitation of the water and movement of the clothes or articles in the container, to a thorough cleansing thereof in the shortest possible time.

A further object of the invention is to improve the power transmitting means bea clutch socket` as the same would` appearV and wringer, and also the electric motor and support therefor;

Figure 8 is a cross-section of the tub, as the same would appear, if taken on' the line 8 8 Figure 4,

Figure 9 is a detail of the crank connection in the transmission for imparting movement to the tub, and

Figure 10 is a detail face view of one of the bearing supports for the tub.

Like characters Vof reference denote corresponding'- parts throughout the figures.

The frame and ccm'ngr-This includes spaced end support 1, 1, preferably made' of angle-iron and each bent into the. form of an inverted U, but with the upper arcuate end of each frame resembling more an inverted V, which not only makes a saving in material, but which also beautiies the design of the frame. To `the lower end of each leg of the end supports is secured a bracket 2 carrying a caster-wheel 3 to make the machine portable and for ease and convenience in moving the machine from place to lace. The lower ends of the legs of each en support are connected and braced by the angle iron bars 4, and the corresponding legsof the opposite end supports are connected and braced by the angle-iron bars 5. The sides of the machine are closed by the panels 6 and the ends are closed by the panels 7. The side panels 6 cover the entire area of the end supports, see Figure 2, being bolted or otherwise secured to the supports 1, as at 8, except that the panels 6 on the side of the machine adjacent 'the operating means is preferably provided with a cut-out portion or opening 9 for easy access to the operating means, and said cut-out portion or opening is preferably closed by the removable plate 10, see Figures 2 and 4 and held in place by a suitabe fastening 11, one member of which engages against a cross brace-bar 12 contween the motor and the container, in the provision of a crank and pitman connectlon with the power means which is. arranged for a clutching anddeclutching connection with such power means; also in the provision of means for locking the clutch in declutched position when the container is in its normal clothes receiving and removing position. l

That the invention may be more fully understood reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the ldescription, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a side'elevation, partly broken `away and partly in section, showing that side of my improved machine on which is located the operating mechanism;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the side panel and enclosing casings in place enclosing the operating mechanism;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the machine lookingl in 'at the right hand end of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section, as the same would appear if taken on the line 4-1 -Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional face view of recaen necting the legs of the end support. A brace bar, such as 12, being provided for each end support, see Figure 4. The end panels, as shown in Figure 3, preferably do not extend to the top of the end supports 1, but rather stop approximately on a line with the top of the perpendicular leg portions of said supports, at which point crossbrace bars 13 connect the opposite end supports; said panels being bolted or otherwise secured to the end supports' 1, as at 14. Included in the frame structure is a platform, comprising the cross-bar 15 and the bar 16 connecting said cross-bar 15 and one of the brace bars 4; also the motor rest 17 preferably resting on'the bar 16 and one of the brace bars 4.

Tub or clothes @anwhlen- The same being designated 18, is preferably made ,of sheet metal and includes the side walls 19 joined by the preferably transversely corrugated or ribbed rubbing wall 20. The top, or clothes receiving and removing portion, is preferably flat with an opening 21 adapted to be closed b v the removable cover or lid 22. rlhis opening is formed by the offset angular bends 23 and 24 of the wall 20, forming a rest for the closure 22 whlcli fits snugly and close so as to prevent Water splashing from the tub when oscillated. The closure 22 has a handle 25. Extending transversely across the bottom of the tub and suitablyv joined to the side walls 19 thereof is a partition or obstruction 26, being a sheet, preferablyv bent into the form of an inverted U to provide a compartment, the lower edges of the side walls being spaced slightly above the wall 20 for the passage of water and to provide for draining thc tub. The water being drained from the. tub thru the valve controlled coupling 27 to which a pipe or hose may be attached, if desired. The side walls of the partition 26 may have openings or perforations 28, also for the passage of water. @ther'partitions or obstructions within the tub are designated 29 provided with'perforations or openings 30. These last mentioned partitions are preferably located well up at either side of the center and extend transversely of the tub,I as shown in. l'figure 8. The partitions 26 and 29, 'as 'the 'tub iS oscillated compel a complete agitation of the water to force the same thru the clothes, and the partition 26 tends to move and change the position of the clothes to insure a thorough cleansing during oscillation. To the side walls 19 are secured castings 31 preferably in the form of spiders, as shown, with trunnions 32 carried in bearings 33 removably journaled in cup seats formed in brackets 34 secured to the end supports, see Figures 4 and 10. This construction not only provides a simple and eificient journal bearing for the tub that it may be oscillated, but the same may be removed or lifted from the machine by the remova]- of the cap-plates 35.

Operating meckam'sm.-Thc electric motor 36 is suitably supported on the motor rest 7 and carries the belt wheel 37 for driving the belt 38 which imparts rotation to the larger belt wheel 39 carried on one end of a driving shaft 40, to the opposite end of which is secured the small gear wheel 41. Meshing with and driven by the wheel 41 is a larger gear wheel 42 carried on a countershaft 43. Both driving and counter-shafts are journaled in suitable bearings formed on or connected with a base plate or casting 44 mounted on frame parts of t-he machine. The gear wheels 41 and 42 are preferably cut gears which eliminates all noise in operation. 45 designates a rocker shaft journaled in bearings on the' base plate or casting 44, one bearing of which isy preferably provided with a clutch seat or socket 46, for purposes to be explained. Pinned or otherwise suitably secured on the shaft 45 is an elongated sleeve 47,to one end of which is connected a crank arm 48 and the other end has an enlargenient 49 provided with diametrically opposed sockets 50, for purposes to be explained. To one end ofthe countershaft 43 is connected a crank-arm 51, and connecting the crank-arms 48 and 51 is a rocker arm 52.

The motor 36 having been connected with y a source of power, in the usual way, motion is imparted to the driving shaft 40, which in turn imparts motion to the counter-shaft 43, and it in turn imparts a rocking motion to the sleeve i 47 and shaft 45 thru the rocker-arm connection 52.

To impart oscillatory movement to the tub 18, there is connected to one of the castings 13 attached thereto, a crank-arm 53, and to the end of said crank-arm is pivotally connected' a reciprocal, preferably' vertically disposed reach bar 54, which at its lower end has a pivotal connection with the end of a crank-arm 55 formed on or connected to a clutch sleeve 56 slidable on the rocker-shaftl 45 between the enlargement 49 on the sleeve 47 and the bearing member having the clutch socket 46. `Said sleeve is formed with an annular Vgroove 57; also with a laterally projecting clutch lug 58 on one side, adapted to have clutch connection with the clutch socket 46, and with clutch pins 59 projecting laterally from the opposite side and which are adapted to have clutch connection with the sockets 50 in the end of the rocker sleeve 47. The clutch' sleeve 56 is engaged in the groove 57 thereof by a shifter-arm 60 secured to the lower end of a rockable rod 61, the lower end of which is journaled in the baseplateor casting 44 and the upper end is journaled in a bracket 62 secured to an l end support l. A lever 63 is secured to the and without any jar to the machine. The

power` connection between the tub and the transmission is ,made thru the clutch sleeve 56. 'hen it is in the position shown in Figure 6 with the lugs or pins 59 inserted in the sockets 50 of the sleeve 47 and as the latter is oscillated or rocked such movement will be imparted to the tub 18 thru the` reach bar connection with the crank-arms 53 and 55. By moving the clutch sleeve 56 into the dotted line position in said Figure 6, the clutch lug 58 is caused to be inserted into the clutch socket 46 of the frame which will lock the clutch sleeve 56 and thelcrankarms 53 and 55, and the reach bar 54 against movement holding the tub in the clothes receiving or removing position shown in Figures 1 and 2, whereas the shafts 40, 43 and 45 may continue to operate, so long as the motor is connected to a source of power, without the tub being disturbed. This condition remains until the clutch sleeve is again moved into the position shown in full lines in Figure 6, clutched to the sleeve 47. A guard 64 is secured to the upper part of the support l next adjacent to the operating mechanism which overlies the crank-arm 53 and protects an attendant who might accidentally lay a hand over the' end support and be jarred by coming into contact with said crank-arm 53 during oscillation.

The wringer driving mechanz'sm-'Ihe wringer mechanism, while it forms no part of the present invention is shown and designated as a whole 65. It is driven off of the vertically disposed shaft 66 which is carried thru an upstanding support or casing 67 secured to a support 1 and brace bar 12 withfits lower end journaled in a casing or housing 68 connected with a casing or housing 69 enclosing the gearing-41 and 42, previously described. The casing or housing 68 encloses bevel gear wheels 70 and 71.

.The former is carried on the counter shaft 43 and the latter carried on the lower end of the shaft 66l These' gears, like the gears 41 and 42 are preferably cut gears and as such insure noiseless operation. As shown in Figure 7 the driving shaft 40 and the counter shaft 43 are journaled in suitable bearings forming part of the casing or housing 69 preferably connected with the base plate or casting 44. Each of the casings or housings 68 and 69 are made in sect-ions. as is usual in machines of this class, to provide for the inspection of the gearing as occasion may require.

l/Vhile I have shown and described the preferred form and manner of constructing and operating the machine, it is obvious that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details, except as stated in t-he appended claims.

1. In a washing machine, in combination, a frame, an oscillatory tub journaled in said frame, a crank-arm connected with said tub, a rockable member journaled'in said frame, means lto rock said member, a shiftable clutch member arranged for connection with said member, a crank-arm connected with said clutch member, a reach connecting said crank-arms, and means for moving said clutch member into and out of' clutch connection Wit-h said rockable member.

2. In a washing machine, in combination,

a frame, an oscillatory tub journaled in said frame, a motor, operating means actuated by said motor for oscillating said tub, said operating'means including a rockable shaft, a sleeve iixed on said shaft and provided in one end with clutch sockets, and a clutch member slidable on said shaft and provided with means adapted to enter said sockets for clutching saidnclutch member to said shaft.

3. In a washing machine, in combination, a frame, an oscillatory tub journaled in said frame, a crank-arm connected radially with one side of the tub, an operating means for imparting oscillatory movement to said tub, including a srockable member, a slidable clutch member arranged for clutch connection with said rockable member, a crank-arm connected with said clutch member, a reach connection between said crank-arms which normally assumes an approximate perpendicular position, and means for manually controlling said clutch member.

4. In a washing machine, in combination, a frame, an oscillator tub journaled in said frame, a drivino sha t, gearing operated by said shaft, arocable shaft, a rocker-arm for actuating said rockable shaft and connected with said gearing, a slidable clutch member arranged for clutch connect-ion with said rockable shaft, means for controlling said clutch, operating connections between said clutch member and said tub, and means for locking said clutch and operating connections when the clutch is declutched from the shaft for locking said tub against oscillation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand. f

ALPHEUs w. ALTORFER. 

